5 big market surprises in 2012

As investors gear up to allocate money in 2013, let\’s look back to see what wound up going against the common sentiment heading into 2012. MarketWatch surveyed some portfolio managers and market strategists, asking them what they felt was a surprise/notable development. Here\’s a sampling of what came in.

– The stock market is now up 14% for the year and we’ve seen no retail participation. We’ve seen retail outflow and the stock market is having a very good year. (Andrew Slimmon, managing director of global investment solutions at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management)

– Unified implementation of central bankers around the world to stimulate growth. The thing that jumps out is: You’re no longer fighting the Fed if that’s your prerogative, you’re fighting the world’s central banks. (Doug Sandler, chief equity officer at Riverfront Investment Group).

– U.S. domestically-oriented stocks outperform companies getting growth in emerging markets: S&P 500
(roughly 165 of the 500 companies only get sales from U.S.) up 14% YTD as of Dec. 12. Dow Jones Industrial Average
is up 9%. (Bill Smead. Portfolio Manager of Smead Value Fund).

– People do go out to the movies: Theater stocks boom. Lions Gates
is up 89% YTD through Dec. 12. Carmike Cinemas
is up 97%. Cinemark
is up 45%. (Lawrence Creatura. Portfolio Manager for the Federated Clover Small Value Fund)

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